Apparatus for pumping oil wells



Jan. 2l, 1941. J. A. zUBLIN APPARATUS FOR PUMPING OIL WELLS Fil'ed May 12, 1939 r V f M M M M iiiiiizian? w W n M M W r W a! fznejar Jahr@ by A Patented Jan. 21, 1941- UNITED STATES y .PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR PUIWPING OIL WELLS `John A. ZublinLos Angeles, Calif.

Application May 12, 1939, Serial N0. 273,239

p 4 Claims.

This .invention relates to the operation of oil wells, both flowing wells and pumping wells.

This application is a continuation in part of my application led May 1, 1939, Serial No. 271,228, entitled Method of and apparatus for producing oil and gas from a well.

In the operation of wells, in the event that there is insufficient formationpressure to lift the oil' to the surface, resort to various pumping mechanisms must be had. Also, the pressure desired in the oil at the surface may besuch as to necessitate pumping.

High gravity oils, and those containinga large amount of free gas, gas in solution, occluded gas, and gas associated with them in other ways, are frequently diiiicult to pump or compress, as the gas lessens the efiiciency of the pumping mechanism by expanding and contracting as the plunger reciprocates, preventing the utilization of the full displacement of the pump for pumping purposes, and, if sunicient gas is present, preventing pumping of fluid entirely, a condition known as gas lock.

It is thus a primary object of this invention to avoid the effect of gas lock which so frequently occurs in the pumping of high gravity oil containing large amounts of free gas, dissolved gas, occluded gas, and gas otherwise associated with the oil.

Another object of this invention is to agitate the oil, causing separation of the gas and oil by mechanical means and with energy derived from the surface, and to then pump or compress the gas free oil without interference from gas.

Another object of this invention is to separate the gas and oil, and liberate the gas into the casing, before owing the gas free oil to the pump which raises it to the surface or increases its pressure.

Another object of this invention is to simplify the actuation of the agitating means by connecting it with the pump or compressor.

Another object of this invention is to allow the oil to be separated from the gas and. pumped to the surface, the gas so separated having a pressure higher than the pressure of the formation producing the oil.

Further objects will becom-e apparent as the de- (c1. Ys-203) Referring to the drawing: Figure 1 is one form of apparatus for practicing my invention, partly in section; and

Figures 2 and 3` are other constructions, also partly in section, al1 iigures being somewhat diagrammatic. f

Referring to-Figure 1, 4 represents a casing of a well with perforations 5. In the casing is an eduction tube 6. In its length, the eduction tube contains a standing `valve 8. Above the 10 standing valve Il is a gas valve 9, the space between the standing valve and the gas valve forming an agitation and separation chamber I0.

. In the casing, somewhere below the gas valve 9, is a packer l, which may be where shown or even below the standing valve 8, on a small tubing extending therefrom. The purpose of the packer is toseparate the gas from the producing zone.

In the separation chamber I0 is a series of agitating elements II, connected to a tubeV I2. This tube I2 passes through the gas valve 9, and is fastened to the pump plunger I 3. In its length in the separation chamber IIJ, the tube I2 has a series of downwardly extending passageways I4, leading to its interior. At its upper end the tube contains a valve I5, allowing flow in' an upward direction only. The plunger I3 is of the usual construction, and contains a travelling valve I6, and is driven from the surface by a suckerrod I'I, 30 in the usual manner for pumping wells.

In operation of this device the oil gas mixture enters the eduction tube and travelsup the tube 6 past the standing valve l8 into the agitation and separation chamber I0. There it is violently agitated by the' reciprocation of the elements II, causing release of a large quantity of gas. As it flows down the passageways I4, entrained gas rises, and eventually passes through the gas valves 9, to the casing, ow downthe openings I4 being at a low enough velocity to allow sufcient gas to separate to accomplish the desired results. The oil rises past the valve I5, into the space below the plunger I3. From thence it is pumped to the surface by the reciprocation of the plunger. The gas, after escaping to the casing, is returned to the formation by the perforations 5, or is withdrawn at the casinghead, as desired. The packer 1 prevents the gas pressure'developed by agitation from-forcing the level of the oil in the pro- 50 duction part of the casing below the bottom of the eduction tube.

In Figure 2 I have shown a diierent form of my invention, in which the oil is agitated in the casing rather than in the eduction tube. In this form, the casing 4 contains an eductiontube I,V 5

which contains a plunger I3 driven by sucker rods from the surface. Instead of tubing to drive the agitator, this form has a sucker rod ifi, connecting the agitator with the pump plunger. The agitator II operates directly in the casing, below the standing valve I8, the sucker rod I! passing through the standing valve.

lBelow the standing valve I8 is a gas :anchor I9, which is in effect two concentric pipes, with passages therein so that oil passes down the annular space between them, before rising in the inner pipe. This construction has an operative identity with the openings III in the form of Figshown in Figure 1 at I4.

ure 1.

In operation, in this form, the agitation of the gas oil mixture in the casing by the agitators II releases the gas, and the lean oil, with some entrained gas, flows down the gas anchor into the eduction tube, past the standing valves to the pump, where it is pumped to the surface. The gas left in the casing may be withdrawn, used for repressuring, in the same well, through perforations in the casing, or through a diierent well, depending upon conditions.

The form of Figure 3- is similar to the form of Figure 2, in that the gas oil mixture is agitated in the casing. However, in this form the agitation is carried on by agitator elements carried by a small tube 20, connected to the plunger as in Figure 1. In this form, the oil flows from below the agitator to the tube 20, and thence to the pump chamber. The intake at the bottom of the tube 20 may be a plain opening, or of the nature In the form of Figure 3, the gas is disposed of as in Figure 2; the oil path,

after entering tube 20, is the same as that of i Figure 1.

It is to be understood, of course, that these figures are not to scale, being grossly exaggerated in width for the purpose of illustrating the principle, and in actual practice the parts in general are very much elongated.

I wish it clearly understood that the invention is not to be limited bythe disclosure, but by the scope of the appended claims.

It is to be understood that in all cases where the word pumping is used that the word is to be interpreted as meaning either pumping in the sense oi lifting the oil to the surface or increasing the pressure of the oil at the pumping mechanism for other purposes.

I claim: i

1. Apparatus for the production of oil from a well flowing a gas and oii mixture to the casing including an eduction tube, a pumping mechanism therein driven from the surface, a tube connected to the pumping mechanism and.

adapted to be actuated thereby, a chamber valved at the bottom for the entry of gas and oil, and at the top for the escape of gas, agitating elements in the chamber driven by the tube, and downwardly directed openings in the tube for admitting separated oil into the tube, whence it ows to the pumping mechanism.v

2. Apparatus. for production of oil from a weil flowing a gas and oil mixture to the casing including an. eduction tube, pumping mechanism in said eduction tube, a chamber having a valve at the bottom thereof for the entry of gas and oil mixture into the chamber, a tube connected to and actuated by the pumping mechanism, said tube extending into said chamber and having .i

agitating elements thereon for agitating the gas and oil mixture to effect separation of gas and oil, openings in said tube for admitting separated oil into the tube whence it flows to the pumping mechanism, a gas valve in the upper portion of said chamber for the escape of separated gas, and packing means in the casing between said gas valve and the region of the well producing the gas and oil mixture whereby the separated gas is sealed against access tc the region of the well producing the gas and oil mixture.

3. Apparatus for the production of oil from a well owing a-gas and oil mixture to the casing including an eduction tube, a pumping mechanism embracing a plunger driven from the surface of the ground, a tube having its upper end connected to said plunger and movable therewith, a chamber having a valve at the lower end thereof for the entry of gas and oil mixture from the well and a gas valve at the upper end for the escape of gas, said tube extending into said chamber, agitating elements in said. chamber driven by said tube for agitating the gas and oil mixture to eect separation of gas and oil, openings in said tube for admitting separated oil into the tube whence it flows to the pumping mechanism, and packing means in the casing between said gas valve and the region of the well producing the gas and oil mixture, whereby the pressure of the separated gas does not affect the flow of gas and oil being produced.

4. A device of the type described in claim 3 including a valve at the upper end of said tube for controlling ow between the interior of said tube to the interior of the pumping mechanism.

JOI-IN A. ZUBLLN. 

